Daeshun Ruffin

Praetorian Cat

Sophomore
Mar 22, 2026
82
140
33


Looks like hiring Williams may help us get a 5'10 guard from Jackson St who shot 30% from three. That was while playing for the team ranked 7th in the mighty SWAC and 12-21 overall. Exciting times.
 

#1 cat fan

Sophomore
May 7, 2009
149
131
43


Looks like hiring Williams may help us get a 5'10 guard from Jackson St who shot 30% from three. That was while playing for the team ranked 7th in the mighty SWAC and 12-21 overall. Exciting times.
Don't be that kind of fan that is obviously unknowledgeable. You mentioned one stat about a point guard. One that is of the least importance.
 

Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,822
17,586
93
IF we bring this kid in, it's as a backup.

Pilgram and some others have said Pope wants to have 3 PG's this year. Mason Williams was brought in as the 3rd. This kid would be a really good backup. And I don't think he would scare off any of the big names at PG. He previously played at Ole Miss and averaged ~10 PPG. I think he can handle himself in the SEC.

I think there's a very difficult situation with backups. If a guy is good enough to play for Kentucky, he's good enough to start a lot of places. And most guys don't want to sign up to be the backup.

Getting a guy from Jackson State that wants to come back to the SEC and prove himself--who is tied to our new AC--to sign up to be the backup PG is a win.

Mo Williams bringing in a 2nd and 3rd string PG--both hard things to find--is a solid start.
 

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,449
15,442
113
IF we bring this kid in, it's as a backup.

Pilgram and some others have said Pope wants to have 3 PG's this year. Mason Williams was brought in as the 3rd. This kid would be a really good backup. And I don't think he would scare off any of the big names at PG. He previously played at Ole Miss and averaged ~10 PPG. I think he can handle himself in the SEC.

I think there's a very difficult situation with backups. If a guy is good enough to play for Kentucky, he's good enough to start a lot of places. And most guys don't want to sign up to be the backup.

Getting a guy from Jackson State that wants to come back to the SEC and prove himself--who is tied to our new AC--to sign up to be the backup PG is a win.

Mo Williams bringing in a 2nd and 3rd string PG--both hard things to find--is a solid start.
Yes ... He played at Ole Miss for two (2) years.
 

cornbreadnmilk

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2025
982
3,055
93
IF we bring this kid in, it's as a backup.

Pilgram and some others have said Pope wants to have 3 PG's this year. Mason Williams was brought in as the 3rd. This kid would be a really good backup. And I don't think he would scare off any of the big names at PG. He previously played at Ole Miss and averaged ~10 PPG. I think he can handle himself in the SEC.

I think there's a very difficult situation with backups. If a guy is good enough to play for Kentucky, he's good enough to start a lot of places. And most guys don't want to sign up to be the backup.

Getting a guy from Jackson State that wants to come back to the SEC and prove himself--who is tied to our new AC--to sign up to be the backup PG is a win.

Mo Williams bringing in a 2nd and 3rd string PG--both hard things to find--is a solid start.
Yeah obviously you take that. But he just doesn't seem the type to fight for a waiver just to sit on the bench even for his old coach.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Nightman2

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
470
1,278
93
FFS, Pope going to hedge his career on 5’10 guard from the SWAC… 😮
He might’ve played in the SWAC, but he’s not a SWAC talent.

He was a McDonald’s All American who had a bunch of high major offers from schools like Florida, Auburn, LSU, UT, etc. It was injuries that derailed his stint at Ole Miss, not poor play.

I’m intrigued enough to keep an open mind about him.
 
Mar 23, 2026
9
16
3


Looks like hiring Williams may help us get a 5'10 guard from Jackson St who shot 30% from three. That was while playing for the team ranked 7th in the mighty SWAC and 12-21 overall. Exciting times.
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

Leadbelly's clown show, everyone. A pathetic UNC fan.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
44,540
80,122
113
IF we bring this kid in, it's as a backup.

Pilgram and some others have said Pope wants to have 3 PG's this year. Mason Williams was brought in as the 3rd. This kid would be a really good backup. And I don't think he would scare off any of the big names at PG. He previously played at Ole Miss and averaged ~10 PPG. I think he can handle himself in the SEC.

I think there's a very difficult situation with backups. If a guy is good enough to play for Kentucky, he's good enough to start a lot of places. And most guys don't want to sign up to be the backup.

Getting a guy from Jackson State that wants to come back to the SEC and prove himself--who is tied to our new AC--to sign up to be the backup PG is a win.

Mo Williams bringing in a 2nd and 3rd string PG--both hard things to find--is a solid start.
If he’s a backup I could handle it, but we all know Pope wants to play these guys and lineups way more than they should.
 

Drogon

All-Conference
Mar 14, 2017
1,632
2,149
113
Assist%: 45.9%
turnover%: 15.1%


Braden Smith

43%
18.3%


One plays with a team full of Big 10 players. The other plays for Jackson State. The 3pt shooting certainly is a drawback, and Im not saying he's on Braden Smith's level, but he's certainly a talented player. I'd pass though. I'd rather see if someone like Hubbard becomes available,
 

Bichoto

Sophomore
Mar 26, 2026
66
116
33
Assist%: 45.9%
turnover%: 15.1%


Braden Smith

43%
18.3%


One plays with a team full of Big 10 players. The other plays for Jackson State. The 3pt shooting certainly is a drawback, and Im not saying he's on Braden Smith's level, but he's certainly a talented player. I'd pass though. I'd rather see if someone like Hubbard becomes available,
One plays against big 10 talent. The other plays against swac talent. I’m saying he is a piece of garbage that will amount to next to nothing.
 
  • Love
Reactions: Eagles_Ball_69

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
470
1,278
93
Assist%: 45.9%
turnover%: 15.1%


Braden Smith

43%
18.3%


One plays with a team full of Big 10 players. The other plays for Jackson State. The 3pt shooting certainly is a drawback, and Im not saying he's on Braden Smith's level, but he's certainly a talented player. I'd pass though. I'd rather see if someone like Hubbard becomes available,
I agree with all of this. I won’t say I want him, but the people in this thread acting like this would be something crazy are ill informed. This guy is a legit high-major PG talent who just happened to be playing at the mid-major level last season.

And for a UK team that struggled mightily against pressure defense because it didn’t have a true PG with elite ballhandling skills, that impressive assist to turnover rate ought to look enticing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JASUN74

20MRoster

All-Conference
Nov 16, 2018
590
1,039
88
When a top 60 or so 4 star starts at a P5 school and ends up at Jackson St, you question what went wrong. Doubt it's the "going home", because both schools are in MS. Was he just poorly rated? Was he a head case? IMO if we already have Mason on board, there's no more room for another player like this -- we gotta start leveling up in PGs.
 

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
470
1,278
93
When a top 60 or so 4 star starts at a P5 school and ends up at Jackson St, you question what went wrong. Doubt it's the "going home", because both schools are in MS. Was he just poorly rated? Was he a head case? IMO if we already have Mason on board, there's no more room for another player like this -- we gotta start leveling up in PGs.
It was injury. His first season at Ole Miss (in which he only played 14 games) got derailed by a broken hand. His second season (in which he only played 11 games) by season ending knee surgery.

But appears he was pretty good at Ole Miss when healthy. As a freshman he averaged 12.6 ppg, 3.4 apg and a fantastic 2.3 steals per game.
 

JASUN74

All-Conference
May 22, 2008
3,114
4,436
73


Looks like hiring Williams may help us get a 5'10 guard from Jackson St who shot 30% from three. That was while playing for the team ranked 7th in the mighty SWAC and 12-21 overall. Exciting times.
If he can handle a press and set up the offense, I’d love to have a backup point that can also score a little. I’m sure he didn’t have the talent around him to win too much. Who the heck knows. lol.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Praetorian Cat

JASUN74

All-Conference
May 22, 2008
3,114
4,436
73
IF we bring this kid in, it's as a backup.

Pilgram and some others have said Pope wants to have 3 PG's this year. Mason Williams was brought in as the 3rd. This kid would be a really good backup. And I don't think he would scare off any of the big names at PG. He previously played at Ole Miss and averaged ~10 PPG. I think he can handle himself in the SEC.

I think there's a very difficult situation with backups. If a guy is good enough to play for Kentucky, he's good enough to start a lot of places. And most guys don't want to sign up to be the backup.

Getting a guy from Jackson State that wants to come back to the SEC and prove himself--who is tied to our new AC--to sign up to be the backup PG is a win.

Mo Williams bringing in a 2nd and 3rd string PG--both hard things to find--is a solid start.
Win win in my book.
 

JASUN74

All-Conference
May 22, 2008
3,114
4,436
73
Hubbard isn’t coming to
Assist%: 45.9%
turnover%: 15.1%


Braden Smith

43%
18.3%


One plays with a team full of Big 10 players. The other plays for Jackson State. The 3pt shooting certainly is a drawback, and Im not saying he's on Braden Smith's level, but he's certainly a talented player. I'd pass though. I'd rather see if someone like Hubbard becomes available,

When a top 60 or so 4 star starts at a P5 school and ends up at Jackson St, you question what went wrong. Doubt it's the "going home", because both schools are in MS. Was he just poorly rated? Was he a head case? IMO if we already have Mason on board, there's no more room for another player like this -- we gotta start leveling up in PGs.
Injury’s mostly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 20MRoster

RedwoodHigh

Senior
Nov 18, 2025
311
443
63
When a top 60 or so 4 star starts at a P5 school and ends up at Jackson St, you question what went wrong. Doubt it's the "going home", because both schools are in MS. Was he just poorly rated? Was he a head case? IMO if we already have Mason on board, there's no more room for another player like this -- we gotta start leveling up in PGs.
Coach change
he wanted to stay in Mississippi
injuries
Being Leading scorer & Conference MVP is tough in any D1 league. Give the kid some credit.
 

Blue Jesus

Senior
Aug 24, 2013
380
526
93
What I don’t understand is what are his grounds for another year of eligibility? I see he had injuries in his first two seasons, then took a redshirt, and played two more full seasons. But in those first two seasons he played 11 and 14 games. Lowe played 9 and I thought he maxed out his games to be eligible for a medical redshirt.
 

20MRoster

All-Conference
Nov 16, 2018
590
1,039
88
Thanks for the clarifications on the injuries guys. Makes sense. Given our history these two years, makes me more wary.

Not saying he's not a good player, the question is more can we afford a roster spot for him?
 

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,150
1,460
72
3pt% for starting guards on the last several national champions

Florida 38.6, 35.0, 35.9
Uconn 32.1, 44.0, 26.7
Uconn 38.8, 36.6
Kansas 40.7, 38.6, 32.3
Baylor 41.6, 39.5, 44.7
Virginia 42.6, 43.8, 39.9
Villanova 40.8, 37.9
UNC 38.3, 33.8
Villanova 35.7, 39.4, 38.3
Duke 39.5, 37.9

The one starting guard on a title team in the last 10 years that shot below 32% from 3 waa Stephon Castle. Who was playing that 3rd guard/sf spot. And was 6’6.

Just don’t think you’re taking a kid like this if youre serious about winning a championship. Unless hes your 7th or 8th man.